Hello FFXI people.
First off, this isn't Shade, it is her husband. While I have played as Shade on occasion (and yes, I did have fun once I figured out all the F keys), she is the one that just absolutely loves this game and was the one behind the keyboard the vast majority of the time. She would sit there and research different enemies and areas, make notes then log on to test her efforts. She really had a mission. And she would sit here and talk with me of the good folks she met and played with just like they were friends up the street. She really loves FFXI. And you know the saying, if she's happy everyone's happy. I was more than willing to tolerate because God knows she put up with me.
She's in trouble right now and we're asking for help. Those of you that know her in the game have probably noticed that she hasn't been logged on for quite some time now. I can tell you she misses all of you and the camaraderie, but she has bigger problems right now.
She went in for what we thought was gall stones and our lives changed. After being taken by ambulance from here in the Florida keys to Baptist hospital in Miami and spending a week there, we found out that she has inoperable pancreatic cancer so advanced that her liver is also seriously affected. There's more stemming from this, but that's enough. Since then trips to oncologists and ER and resting between has been her routine. Her current prognosis is not good, so we are asking this of everyone we know, and that extends to you.
If you believe in God, (or a higher being of your choice), would you please include her in your prayers. If you do not, please think of her with positive thoughts. Her RL name is Cindy. We can surely use all the help we can get.
She also asked that each and everyone of you get an annual checkup irregardless of how you are feeling. She was the epitome of health at 56 years old(yes, we are both really old school gamers, we met back in the days where pinball was the game of choice). She ate right, fast walked 5 miles practically every morning, did her wii Fit and hasn't had even so much as a cold in 3-4 years. Literally she was in perfect health (other than being almost totally deaf) felt great and had not a clue of what was happening inside her. A delay of one of her checkups by several months resulted in this not being caught when there were still options for treatment. The doctors think she has had this for about a year.
Please don't let it happen to you, life is truly fragile and precious.
Thank you all.
PS, She wanted to say hi Mrs. Catwho